The goal of Abscess Time isn't aimed at kicking against the boundaries of the existent heavy music scene, but rather to give better definition to those lines that have been previously drawn. I think it's clear that in refining rather than expanding their sound, Pyrrhon have given us a more precise picture of what they're capable of.
Spain's Yawners honestly feels like they've emerged from a time capsule buried deep in the earth some time in the previous decade. The prickly, precious little confections they bake up on their latest album, Just Calm Down, are so delicate and delightful that they will feel like they could melt in your mouth.
Human Impact is chiefly Unsane's vocalist and guitarist, Chris Spencer, joined by Swans bassist Chris Pravdica, keyboardist Jim Coleman of Cop Shoot Cop, and drummer Phil Puleo, also of Cop Shoot Cop. If you were hoping for more Unsane's misanthropic, knives out dirges, you're unfortunately in the wrong place.
Blacker Face may be one of the punkest bands active in the US right now. This is apparent not only from the brash way they blend styles into a recondite arch of rock and rebellion, but also from the deliberately confrontational approach they bring to music, and the conversations it generates. Their most recent album Distinctive Juju is likely the fullest realization of their message and sound to date.
Red Death’s third album is a high watermark for the band, and crossover thrash generally in 2019. They’re a band that continues to flirt with iconoclasm as they define their own identity amongst a growing number of phenomenally talented punk bands, who arm the angry approach of hardcore with the ferocious sonic implements of our metal forefathers.
Knocked Loose has ripped punk rock a new one, and now the rest of us can feast on the bounty of brutality they have wrought upon the scene. The first minute of A Different Shade of Blue sets the tone for the entire album with squalling feedback and a thunderous death metal groove at full gate, picking up intensity by dipping into a thorny breakdown only to emerge into a stumbling crawl through a razor lined corridor of regret.
Deserted stakes up easily against its predecessor in the band’s discography, 2016’s Sonoran Depravation in both mastery of form and devastating impact of execution. The most distinguishing factor between the two is the slightly clearer production on Deserted, which is not surprising given who was involved in the post-production.
Undercurrent, their second LP, is the product of an entirely separate cast of evil doctrine. Its compositions leap from the speakers to place a hand around your throat like vengeful oni manifesting from folds of a recently translated and cursed scroll. The chord progressions are more muscular. The production is cleaner.
